Children & Family

Start Your Child’s Medical Coverage - As an IU Academic or Staff employee enrolled in a medical plan, eligible dependents can be enrolled in the same plan when a qualifying change in status occurs. Enrollment must take place within 30 days of birth, adoption, or legal guardianship.

Paid Parental Leave is provided to an eligible staff employee, following a birth or adoption of a child, in recognition of the importance of work + life synergy and offering parents the opportunity to bond with their new child. IU faculty, for more information on parental leave, please see Paid Family Leave for Academic Appointees.

The 24-Hour Nurse Line (dial 888-279-5449) is a resource for those enrolled in one of the IU-sponsored medical plans who need guidance on non-emergency health questions and concerns.

For those on an IU-sponsored medical plan, get qualtiy medical care online for commonly treated conditions 24/7 using LiveHealth Online.

IU Spending & Savings Programs - IU offers three types of accounts that let you set aside tax-free money for health care or dependent care expenses.

Change the beneficiaries on your base retirement and life insurance, as well as any other supplemental plans.

Those on an IU-sponsored medical plan, who are 12 years and older, can meet with a provider at Marathon Health (in-person or telehealth).

IU Bloomington
The Campus Child Care Support office can offer assistance in finding child care on campus. Learn more about IU Bloomington Campus Child Care Support

IU Indianapolis
The IU Indianapolis Center for Young Children provides child care and early childhood education for the University’s diverse population as well as the Indianapolis Community. Learn more about IU Indianapolis Center for Young Children

Indiana University partners with Care.com as a resource for finding and hiring pre-screened caregivers and care companies for child care, backup care, and more. Pre-registration is required for backup care. Child care resources include babysitters, nannies, au pairs, tutors and special needs providers.

Learn more about the Care.com Partnership

The Paths to Quality program provides information for choosing quality child care in Indiana. Learn more about Choosing Quality Child Care

Powered by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Child Care Finder helps you locate child care in Indiana. 

Cigna’s Veteran Support Line will help all veterans, their families, and caregivers with services and resources for parenting, child care, and more. Services are provided whether or not the veteran is a Cigna customer. Call 1-855-244-6211 for more information.

General Resources

• Brighter Futures Indiana offers information to empower families, like yours, in their search for the highest quality learning experiences for their children.
• On My Way Pre-K awards grants so four-year-olds from low-income families may have access to a high-quality pre-K program the year before they begin kindergarten.
• Head Start and Early Head Start Centers support children's growth from birth to age 5 through services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being.
• First Steps is an early intervention program for children birth to age 3 who would benefit from additional support to meet their developmental milestones.

IU Bloomington

• Monroe Smart Start Birth-to-Five is a coalition of public and private organizations, businesses, and parents who are working together to ensure that local children enter school healthy, well-cared for, and ready to succeed in school and in life.
• Chances and Services for Youth provides services “cradle to college” ensuring children grow up in safe, nurturing environments in our community.
• Monroe County School Corporation Pre-K offers 4-year-old education at 13 elementary schools in state-licensed and Level 4 Paths to QUALITY classrooms.
• Edgewood Early Childhood Center at Richland Bean Blossom School Corporation offers a level 4 pre-school with half and full-day options.

IU Indianapolis

• Day Early Learning provides high-quality early care & education for infants to pre-K.
• Indianapolis Public Schools Pre-K program serves children turning 4 years old on or before August 1^st; provides developmentally appropriate and play-based experiences that support physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth.

• The Goddard School Indianapolis North provides high-quality preschool and early childhood education to all children aged 1-5.

IU East

• Wayne County Child Care Centers provides basic information for childcare centers located in Wayne County, Indiana.
• Birth to Five offers free services to create a family-centered, comprehensive, collaborative, and high-quality early childhood system that supports Wayne County, Indiana children ages birth to five years old.
• Richmond Community Schools PreSchools is open to children ages 3 to 5 with a variety of enrollment options.

IU Kokomo

• Kokomo School Corporation Community Preschools provides free half-day preschool classes to Kokomo School Corporation residents.
• Kokomo Family YMCA’s early learning center provides infant, toddler, and before & after school care.

IU South Bend

• South Bend Community School Corporation Pre-K provide a safe, developmentally appropriate, and nurturing environment that promotes a love of learning, and a positive self-image. 

IU Northwest

• First Steps provides services that are designed to meet the developmental needs of children.
• Bethune Early Childhood Development Center within the Gary School Corporation

IU Southeast

• Goodwill’s Children’s Learning Center is a National Early Childhood Program Accreditation child development center and preschool for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
• The Children’s Academy Early Learning Center through the New Albany-Floyd County School Corporation provides pre-school options starting at age 3 for Floyd County residents.

IU Columbus

• Bright Beginnings provides early learning at the Bartholomew County School Corporation. 
• Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Pre-K supports families in preparing children who are socially, emotionally, and cognitively ready for kindergarten.

IU Fort Wayne

• Early Childhood Alliance assist parents with finding quality childcare from infancy through school age.
• Abacus Early Learning Center programs are designed to enhance your child’s skills in areas such as literacy, math, science, computers, creative art, music and dramatic play.
• Fort Wayne Community Schools Title I pre-kindergarten believes in the importance of starting children off right with a high-quality early childhood program.
• Children’s Village is a state-of-the-art learning center that strives to meet children's developmental needs while promoting school readiness.
• Turnstone’s Kimbrough Early Learning Center is a full-day inclusive childcare program that considers the unique physical, developmental, and social needs of children of all abilities. 

General Resources

• Boys and Girls Club of America provides camps and programs during after-school hours, holiday breaks, and summer.
• Girls Inc. offers after-school and summer programs for girls aged 6-18 providing mentorship, supportive spaces, and programming to address the challenges girls face and help them succeed.
• Indiana University High School Online is a distance education program serving high school students and adult learners who want or need an alternative to a brick-and-mortar school.
• The YMCA provides multiple locations through out the state, many providing before and after school care and summer programs.

IU Bloomington

• Monroe County Community School Extended Day offers before and after-school care for MCCSC.
• Richland Bean Blossom School Extended Day offers before and after-school care for RBB Schools.
• IU Bloomington Precollege Programs offers dozens of year-round and in-person precollege programs for K–12 students, including many summer camp options.

IU Kokomo

• The Carver Community Center offers programs centered around athletics, education, and the arts, including after school programing.

IU Northwest

• Youth Services Bureau equips youth with tools to maximize their life’s potential, empowers them to lead, and gives them a platform to make an impact in their city and the world. The summer program provides recreation, nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer.

IU South Bend

• South Bend Community Schools offers Bright Beginnings - Before School Program and Kaleidoscope Club - After School Program.

IU Columbus

• Foundation for Youth provides programming that inspires and enables youth.

IU Fort Wayne

• Wellspring Youth After School Program activities include homework help, arts and crafts, ethnic and science nights, and other educational and recreational programs.

• About Special Kids (ASK) is Indiana’s Parent to Parent organization that works throughout the state to give support to families of children with special needs.
• IN*SOURCE exists to help parents of children with disabilities navigate the special education process in the state of Indiana and help bridge the gap between schools and parents.
• The Arc of Indiana offers special education services to school-age children with disabilities through the public school system at no cost.
• Rauch Early Intervention program assures that all families with infants and toddlers experiencing developmental delays or disabilities have access to the services they need when they need them. Their Grow-N-Learn Preschool is led by developmental and occupational therapists and is specially designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years old with developmental delays.
• Center for Possibilities offers a full-day, full-year developmental preschool and childcare program for children ages 3-6 with mild to severe developmental disabilities and delays.

Indiana University provides wellness rooms to support Faculty, Staff, and Students who are lactating. Each room provides private space for lactation; however, refrigeration and storage are not available in every location.

Find your campus’ lactation space(s) HERE. 

• The CDC offers essential parenting education via video, articles, and skill practice games.
• under The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) offers tips on Bullying and Cyberbullying.
• The Villages Building Healthy Families program helps new parents champion their families and gives Indiana’s babies a brighter beginning by building confidence, reducing stress, and maximizing the joys of becoming a new mother or father.
• Centerstone provides specialized services for every stage to help support families and children.
• New Hope Family Services Mission supports families in need in the Southern Indiana area with a wide range of programs that offer parenting support, family planning services, and more.
• Boys Town provides free online parent guides on topics such as behavioral disorders, potty training, bullying, teen dating, holiday survival, communication skills, and much more.
• Free Formula Exchange is a nationwide mutual aid network connecting families who need baby formula to people who have formula to donate. 
• National Diaper Bank Network, in partnership with members, works to end diaper need in the United States.

IU Bloomington

• IU Working Moms’ Group provides a community for employees who are maintaining a career alongside their parenting responsibilities. Moms with children of all ages, from newborns to adults, are welcome. To join, email Amanda Peterson at amkhoffm@iu.edu or like the Facebook group page.
• IU Health Bloomington Hospital offers free Car Seat Safety Check and other maternal, baby, and parenting classes.

IU Kokomo

• Family Service Association of Howard County promotes healthy families and empowers vulnerable individuals and families through education, prevention, and crisis intervention programs.

IU Northwest

• Indiana Parenting Institute serves families with children ages birth to eighteen years seeking to improve, or strengthen, their family bond, and to realize their full potential.
• Parents as Teachers provides home-based support and evidence-based strategies to empower parents with the skills and knowledge needed to create a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for their children.

IU South Bend

• Indiana Parenting Institute of St. Joseph County is a family services organization that serves families with children ages birth to eighteen years that are seeking to improve, or strengthen, their family bond and to realize their full potential.

IU Southeast

• Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services offer support groups for families desiring input and assistance with child-rearing questions and situations.

IU Columbus

• Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center collaborates with community resources to offer a wide array of programs and activities that address seven priority needs (safety, infrastructure, health, education, positive youth development, parent-child interaction, and parent support).
• Family Service, Inc. offers the Comprehensive Family Education (FLE) program that provides families with information and coping strategies when they are experiencing problems with parenting, going through a divorce, or with anger issues in the home, school, or workplace.

Whether adopting through the Indiana Adoption Program or an independent agency, federal and state laws require certain actions to take place prior to finalizing the adoption. 

What to Know About Adopting in Indiana

The Department of Child Services’ Indiana Adoption Program (IAP) is a statewide initiative that finds adoptive homes for Indiana’s children and older youth in foster care. What to Know About Adopting in Indiana provides information and resources regarding Indiana adoption laws and requirements, types of adoption, and the adoption process.

Independent Adoption

Independent adoptions are typically handled by private adoption attorneys or agencies. Learn ten differences between adopting through an agency or attorney.

Legal Process & Adoption Rates

The Department of Child Services reviews the legal aspects of adoption that every prospective adoptive parent needs to know, including the Adoption Agency Information & Rates.

Post-Adoptive Services

Adjusting to a significant change like adoption can be a long process. Some adopted children have needs that require specialized services and skills which don’t become apparent until after the adoption. Post-adoptive services are available to support.

• Indiana Resource Center for Autism empowers individuals and engage systems through three areas: Training, School, and Community.
• Autism Resource Center of Kokomo provides education, advocacy, and support to families dealing with autism spectrum disorders.
• Indiana Behavior Analysis Academy provides support and resources for families with children on the autism spectrum.
• Families United for Support and Encouragement (FUSE) provides information, resources, and support to Indiana families raising children with special needs, such as autism, cerebral palsy, and developmental disabilities.
• Applied Behavior Center for Autism offers a wide range of services and programming for individuals with autism of all ages.
• Children’s Autism Center provides therapy and services for children with autism.
• Cornerstone Autism Center assist families in every possible way with autism treatment.

• National Center for Fathering is a nonprofit organization that provides practical, research-based tools and resources to inspire and equip fathers to be actively engaged in their children’s lives.
• Dads Inc. at the Villages provides support and education for fathers in order to develop healthy relationships and positive engagement in the lives of their children.

• Kids Voice Indiana provides advocacy and education for children and youth in the family court system.
• Firefly Children & Family Alliance  provides programs and services which include child abuse prevention, home-based services, youth placement, and recovery services.
• Iris Family Support provides prevent and eliminate the abuse and neglect of children through education, counseling, intervention, family services, and community partnerships.